Wednesday, January 23, 2008

In God We Trust

Have you received one of those e-mails yet? You know, the panicky one that says “New Dollar Coin Omits 'In God We Trust’ ”. The e-mail explains how the US Mint has redesigned the one dollar coin and that “It does not have In God We Trust on it. Another way of leaving God out.”

Really? I’m not sure who started this nonsense, but not many people took the time to look on the side of the coin.




Can you see that?

Everything that used to be on the face of the coin is now imprinted on the side. A news article said that a certain number of coins had initially been distributed without anything imprinted on the side. But the error was caught and corrected.

But still, what is all the fuss about?

When I pointed out, to friends and family who had sent me that panicky e-mail, that “In God We Trust” is now imprinted on the side and to please check the story out before sending me panicky e-mails, they said “Don’t you see? They’re trying to remove God from everything. They’ve taken him off the face of the coin. What will be next? We have to do something!!”

It seems to me they are still caught up in the panic. But why?

I think it is because people tend to allow themselves to get caught up in things that don’t really matter all that much. At least it is better than replacing it with this…


don’t you think?




It may hit a little closer to home for a lot of people.
We could spend a lot of time talking about this one, but I’ll save that for another time and get back to the subject at hand.


“In God We Trust” has been imprinted on the face of American currency since 1938. That means it wasn’t on there before then. I wonder what those panicky people had to fuss about before 1938?

I honestly don’t know, but I can give you some pretty good ideas….

Consider those guys who tried to trick Jesus in Luke, Chapter 20, verses 20 through 26. They were asking him about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked them to show him a denarius (not much different than today’s dollar coin) and then asked what was on it.

It had a portrait and inscription of Caesar, so Jesus told them

“…give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

You can bet that the coin did not say “In God We Trust”. But…..Jesus’ life DID!

Jesus provided us with an example of how to live our lives and how to treat other people (“…love you neighbor as yourself…”).

I don’t really think God cares a whole lot about what is or is not written on our money.

Think about it.

Prior to 1938, God’s name was not on our money. BUT…His name was in our schools, and in our government, and in our homes.

I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have “In God We Trust” written in my life, for everyone to see, rather than on my money.

After all, how many people do you know that were led into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because of what they saw written on a dollar coin?

Whether you realize it or not, there are people in your town, in your neighborhood, perhaps next door to you, that are going to hell. But not because of what may or may not be imprinted on their new one dollar coin (which hardly anyone will actually use anyway), but because they don't know about Jesus!

Get it?

Remember, when God wants to reach people, He uses……people. And God wants people to know and follow His Son. God is way more interested in your heart, than He is about your money (it’s His money anyway, not yours).

Jesus said, “….give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

So…..what’s written on your heart?

Blessings.

8 comments:

CrazyDeb said...

I love this post! I hope that after people have contact with me they walk away knowing a little more about what it means to be a Christian. It's not about condemnation, punishment, etc. It's about grace and love - just what Christ wants us to show. You put it so perfectly!!!

EE said...

Well written, Dude!!!
People can get so worked up over the littlest things.
I, however, never do this;)

"Remember, when God wants to reach people, He uses……people."- My favorite line!!!

Real Life in South Carolina said...

While I can understand "the panick" people feel of having our religious freedoms taken from us...(because I've had to fight for my son's right to pray in school), you most certainly have a point. God is looking at our hearts and the heart of our nation, not the inscription on a coin. Seriously, How many people do you know who've been saved by the inscription on a coin? Dude, I love the wisdom you share with us through your blog!

Dr.John said...

I loved what you said. What is writen on our lives is the most importan thing.
Nut the people who are making the fuss have seen God kicked out of the rest of our public life and are trying to draw a line that says "This far and no further". They may be wrong but I understand them.

Denise said...

I just wanted to say thank you for your condolences on my blog. Blessings.

Angie said...

I didn't realize that "In God We Trust" didn't show up on money until the 30s. Interesting.

Alpha Dude, your visit to my blog abstolutely made my day. I've read your blog off and on (via That Chick) and have enjoyed and agreed with your perspective on so many issues.

.....it's also refreshing and reassuring to find BELIEVERS on the internet who are not afraid to declare how GOOD our God really is!

Blessings!

Unknown said...

Hey, Alpha Dude. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog.

Yeah...the things that have been made to be important...are the things that I think sadden God.

Oh, and how many angels CAN fit on the head of a pin anyway? :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Alpha Dude,

Thank you for your comments on "In God We Trust." Correction, "In God We Trust" actually appeared in 1864 on the two-cent coin and in 1957 on paper money. Big deal, well consider these two passages of scripture:

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all therein is.

Psalm 24:1 which states that, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Collectively, everything belongs to God and society as a whole should be reminded of that. Truly, God is Sovereign over all! Yes, ultimately we as Christians should live out the life of Christ. However, let US not give any ground to the adversary of our souls....

Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path.

I believe the public acknowledgement and demonstration of who God should not be hindered nor disturbed. Lastly, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, signer of the U.S. Constitution:

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writing, that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that built it." (Ps.127:1)* I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel;...

Let God (Jesus) arise in every arena be it chapel, school, park, library, museum, zoo, ship, etc... and let His enemies be scattered. Amen!

In Christ alone,
Gerald

*scripture reference added